Turns out you're in a demographic that's a little rarer these days, according to Evan Anderson, an agent with Realty Executives in Tempe. He said the declining number of prospective homebuyers, particularly in the 25-to 30-year-old age range, is a phenomenon that he and industry colleagues have witnessed over the past several years.

While he added that he's no expert on the subject, Anderson said the mindset today's younger buyers have toward homeownership is probably another offshoot of the recent housing crisis. Unlike typical young would-be buyers of years past, clients don't seem to put as much value on homeownership and are often hesitant to sign a mortgage, which they may view as too long-term of a commitment, or an encumbrance that could tie them down, not a good thing in this mobile society.

"I think their reluctance stems from seeing their relatives go through this housing bubble and all the stress that came with it," he said of the younger homebuyers, who often have great jobs, good credit scores and plenty of income — ideal credentials, in most instances, for purchasing a property — but who may also be saddled with significant student-loan debt or concerns about job stability.

"They've seen their parents or family members lose homes or just hang onto homes by the skin of their teeth, or they watched those homes lose value, and I don't think that's happened in a generation. We lived through the 18 percent interest rates of the late 1970s, but what I don't recall ever having is the massive loss in home value that we saw with this most recent recession."

Which isn't to say there aren't young buyers out there. There are, and they're largely a well-educated lot who've done their research thanks in large part to online resources, he said. For example, Anderson said, young would-be buyers in general fit these categories:

• More conservative about the house payment they can afford.

• Determined to stick to their budget.

• Cognizant of all additional costs, such as the price to replace an air-conditioning unit or a water heater.

• Interested in energy efficiency, from insulation to appliance ratings.

• Attentive to crime statistics in potential new neighborhoods.

"These are all great things, and the questions they ask and things that they look for are impressive," Anderson said. Young buyers also have very high expectations regarding homes for sale, he said.

As both a real-estate agent and the son of an Arizona-based homebuilder, Anderson has a decidedly pro-homeownership outlook, but he also realizes it's not the ideal situation for everyone. To help people figure out which route is best for them, he urges younger clients to take the time to discover what it's like to live on a budget, and on a salary, before committing to a house payment.

"You really need to learn what that feels like and how far your money goes," he said.

He also reminds them to be cautious with credit, to avoid credit-card debt and to pay off bills as quickly as possible. Occasionally, he also has to urge clients to actually use their credit, too. Clients can be so conscientious about not running up their credit cards that that they don't use any at all and then fail to have a credit record.

"And not having credit is a bad thing if you want to buy a house," Anderson said. "Unfortunately, it's a necessary evil. You have to have some credit."

Regardless of his clients' ages, Anderson tells them all to remember that there is no "perfect" house and that all dwellings age and will take money to maintain, especially homes 10 years or older. Likewise, he also tells them to refrain from viewing their home as an investment — a piggy bank, if you will — and to instead see it for what he said it is: a lifestyle choice.

"You're going to come home to this place every night, so ask yourself if you feel comfortable in it," he said. "You have to be comfortable, whether it goes up a little bit in value or whether it goes down in value."